Saturday, November 23, 2013

Lake to Lake Birding

Early Morning!

I had intentions of starting at Sarnia this Saturday morning as a good NW wind was forecast. I got up and
the wind was light out of the SW! Somehow I was not surprised, so I went to Rondeau instead.
It was a clear morning and I started on south point trail. By this time of year, birds are fairly scarce down there but I did see a few. A single Ruby-crowned Kinglet was quite obliging.

At least seven Eastern Bluebirds were flying around. Here are two high in a tree.

A few things were on the lake. It was much calmer than last week and more shoreline was visible!

After that walk, the campground is always a must this time of year. Fewer birds than last week, but there were some highlights. I came across a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Not unusual for one or two of these to hang around the campground all winter. This one will likely stay.

At the same time I was chasing around a large flock of juncos. I heard a robin or two and saw three birds flying by. The trailing bird was a bit different--a tad smaller and different look. It stopped to perch very briefly in a tree while the other two continued on. A female Varied Thrush! I saw it only briefly, but I had little doubt. It continued in the direction of the other two birds into Bate's Subdivision. I headed that way, but could not locate it again.
There was no time to get a camera on it plus the fact I was not too close to it. Hope it is still around.
The last Varied Thrush in the park (first park record, but second for Rondeau area) was one I found on south point trail in early October 2002.
Also in the campground was a Fox Sparrow and a few Yellow-rumped Warblers.

I took a brief look at ducks on the Bay then headed out. By this time the wind was switching and picking up. I headed over to Ridgetown and saw two Snow Geese among the many Canada's. I really wanted to sit at Sarnia and watch the lake, so I continued on up to Sarnia!

Just south of Florence, I encountered a large flock of Lapland Longspur. Some Horned Larks were mixed in, but I estimated about 75 birds.

When I arrived, a good brisk NW wind was blowing and there was quite a bit of action. There are still large numbers of Bonaparte's Gulls on the US side. I could not find anything with them...not even a shearwater (lol).
At one point I did see a first cycle Little Gull fly out over the lake.
A first cycle Glaucous Gull was making big circles as I saw it three times in the 3.5h I was there. Paul Carter joined me for some time and even Sarah Rupert stopped in to her old stomping grounds. Lots of activity...
I eventually left even though the wind was picking up.

Next stop was Perch Creek. Got a nice look at a Northern Shrike. The first look revealed that it had a mouse. Later on I saw it again and got a half decent photo.

I checked for owls and only got one Long-eared in the pines. Not much else around.

3 comments:

Blake, that'd an excellent day of birding! hopefully that varied thrush sticks around. maybe your rondeau contacts can be on alert for it. I heard varied thrushes at Banff but never saw one. they can very elusive!

Josh, yes they usually come to feeders here in the winter. The first one I had at Rondeau popped out of the underbrush on south point trail along the lake and sat in a tree. No camera!The very first one I saw (in Springbank Park,London)a long time ago, I don't think was coming to a feeder either.